Minister orders action against quacks

PESHAWAR: Caretaker Health Minister Akbar Jan Marwat has directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Care Commission (HCC) to take stern action against quacks and devise a mechanism to stop private doctors from overcharging patients.

The previous Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led government introduced the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Medical and Teaching Institute Reforms Act 2015 and Health Care Commission Act 2015 (HEC) to improve health services and regulate both the public and private care services in the province.

The HEC has yet to show its performance and take action against quacks and hundreds of laboratories and medical facilities being run by unqualified people.

The minister on Tuesday visited the HCC and said that health was an important sector and provision of quality of services to the people was the prime responsibility of the government.

Akbar Jan Marwat directed the concerned authorities to perform duties with devotion and keep a vigilant eye on malpractices. He called for taking strict action against those playing with human lives.

HCC Chairman Asghar Sardar briefed the minister about the mandate and performance of the commission.

He said the field staff, including inspectors, were deployed across the province and claimed that 2,158 unauthorised medical labs were sealed in action against illegal health businesses.